Are you planning a trip to the Tuscany region and wondering “Is there Uber in Florence Italy?” – we’re here to help.

We absolutely love Florence (and Italy as a whole). It’s a beautiful country with incredible cities steeped in history, lush green countryside, and wonderful beaches. And, don’t even get us started on the food…

When planning our trips away we always like to know if the destination has Uber and Florence was no different. In this article we’ll go through the question is there Uber in Florence? As well as discussing some alternatives to Uber.

Is there Uber in Florence Italy?

Yes, there is Uber in Florence, Italy. But, it’s not the Uber you know and love. It doesn’t operate the same as it does across Europe in the whole of Italy.

A little background on Uber Florence Italy: There’s been a lot of conflict between Uber and Italian taxi drivers similarly in Florence. Getting and maintaining a taxi license is a complicated and costly process in Italy, so Italian taxi drivers are understandably very protective of their licenses and livelihoods. Uber has managed to enter the market but, in a different way to the Ubers that we are used to as that type of taxi cannot legally operate in Florence.

Because of this, the only type of Uber that operates in Florence is ‘Uber black’. You can still order a taxi on the app the same way that you usually would. However, it will only provide you with one option of taxi and will be at a far higher price than what we’re used to with Uber and in comparison to the local taxis. Uber in Florence uses a private driver (NCC). Because of this, you will pay a premium for the service and can end up paying almost double what a standard taxi would cost you. So, when wondering ‘Is there Uber in Florence Italy?’ Don’t wonder anymore.

Florence Uber alternative – what are they?

Luckily, there are many alternatives to Uber in Florence so you can still easily get around the Tuscan city without having to pay a huge premium for using Uber. Don’t wonder ‘Is there uber in Florence Italy?’ anymore.

Here are some of the alternatives to Uber in Florence Italy:

Use a licensed taxi

There are plenty of licenced taxis all across Florence that actually cost less than the price of an Uber. They’re easy to order or find and are a convenient way of travelling from one side of the city to the other.

Ways to get a taxi in Florence include:

Waiting at a taxi stand in Florence – These are dotted across the city You’ll find taxi stands scattered throughout Florence, at major landmarks such as in front of train stations and spots such as Piazzale Michelangelo. Making getting a taxi far easier than wondering ‘Is there Uber in Florence Italy?’

Calling a taxi to meet you where you are – You can find local taxi numbers online, simply call one of these to order a taxi. Alternatively, have someone call a taxi for you. Hotel and restaurant staff will be happy to do this for you.

Use an app to order a taxi try the AppTaxi app or TAXIMove.

Take the Bus in Florence

The public transport system in Florence is great. You can get around using a combination of buses and trams.

The buses in Florence are run by Autolinee Toscane. The easiest ways to buy a bus ticket are from the automatic vending machines, using the ‘at bus’ app. However, these can be slightly more expensive and can end up holding up the journey, so if you can, try and purchase your ticket before getting on the bus. If you opt for a paper ticket you will need to validate it in the small machine on the bus. Just pop it in and it will mark your ticket, without doing this your ticket isn’t valid. If the machine isn’t working, write the date and time on the ticket.

The tram isn’t great for moving around the historic centre, but it is really useful if you would like to reach some of the outer areas or the Firenze Peretola Airport (FLR). You can purchase the tram tickets in the automatic machines at each of the stops.

If you prefer to see more of the city on foot (after all, it’s the best way to get to know a city in our opinion), then luckily, Florence is also a very walkable city and you can see most of the main spots by walking between them. Plus, this way you’ll also pass the city’s cute streets and restaurants.

The use of electric scooters has become more and more popular in Florence, you can rent them by downloading the Bird app on your smartphone. It’s a nice alternative to public transport and a quicker way of getting around the city whilst still seeing the local spots. However, a lot of locals don’t like the use of them due to people riding them inappropriately so be sensible and respectful if you opt for one.

How to get from Florence Italy airport to the centre of Florence

Florence airport is easily connected to Florence centre and you can travel between the two in as little as 20 minutes using public transport. Since 2019 there has been a tram that runs from the airport to the centre of Firenze.

The tram runs from 5:00 in the morning to 00:30 in the evening (and until 2:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday). Depending on the time, the tram frequency varies from 7 to 18 minutes, with one tram every 7 minutes on average during peak hours.

Tickets cost on average €2 which you can purchase from a vending machine in the tram station or airport.

Conclusions on ‘Is there Uber in Florence Italy?’

To conclude on the question Is there Uber in Florence? There is but, not as you know it. The only available Uber is Uber Black which actually costs a far higher price than regular licensed taxis in Florence. Because of this we recommend either using licensed taxis or public transport to get around the Tuscan city of Florence.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions on ‘Is There Uber in Florence?’